Folding sheet-metal box.



0. G, FBANKS. FOLDING S'HEET METAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.l2, 191Z Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

4 SHEET-'5 slant 1.

O. G. FRANKS.

FOLDING SHEET METAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1912.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914. 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Wag/- SWW 0. G. PRANKS. FOLDING SHEET METAL BOX. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.12,1912.

Patented 001. 13, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

25 A 15: flzvzn 23%7Zk6 0. G. FRANKS. FOLDING SHEET METAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1912.

Ti E5.

'1, 1 1 3,608. Patented 001;. 13, 191 1 "4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

n Tan ,STATnc GREEN Gr. FRANKS OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TO J. ROUSE,

,rA-TENT OFFICE.

OF WILLIAMSPOBT, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING SHEET-META; BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 12, 1812.

Patented Oct. 13, I Serial No. 720,026.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnarls G. Fnzrnxs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Williamsport, in the county of Lycomin and: State of Pennsylvania, have invent/e new and useful Improvements in Folding Sheet-Metal Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in folding sheet metal boxes, and it proposes a I box which,'while capable of somewhat gen eral. application, is especially adapted as a container for crackers or cookies, or simismall compass, forming, when folded, a fiat rectangular body of slight depth; to provide a box wherein the folding parts are so jointed and related that" the perishable contents are efiiciently protected against dust and vermin; to provide a box which may be"collapsed or extended with ease and facility; which embodies parts of such construction that the movements of the folding walls to extended relation are positively arrested at the proper time; and which does not require any special fastening adjnnts to maintain the folding walls in extended relation; .to provide a box which may be sterilized thoroughly and with facility and which has pro vision for the ready removal and replacement of any parts, such as transparent pan els or name plates that might be detrimcntally affected byfthe sterilizing operation; to provide a box having an improved, front wall construction wherein the name plate thereby facilitating and display panel are removable from the front wall and the name plate coacts with.

the front Wall in retaining the display panel; to provide a box which shall be of neat and pleasing appearance and in which provision is made for concealing the joints between the folding walls; and to provide a box which, when folded, may nest with construction,

other folded boxes of similar the stora'rge or shipping of the boxes in quantities and with the greatest economy of space.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds. o

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Y

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box as set up for use; Fig. 2 is afront elevation of the box, partly broken-away, to show the ig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 9, looking in the directionof the arrow; Fig; 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in thddirection of the arrow; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the front portion of the box on .the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of the bottom of the box; 'Fig. 7 is a vertical fragmentary 'sectionjon the line 7-7 of Fig. 3, looking'in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the parts midway between their extended tion; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the box as collapsed for shipping or storage; Fig. 10-

is a detail sectional view showing a slight modification of the joint between the-side walls and the back, and Fig. 11 is a detail sectional viewshowing a device to be arran ed near the top of the box for ositively 'hol ing the side walls in extends Similar characters of reference designate -corresponding parts thronghout the several views.

The box comprises side Walls 1, a rear wall 2,.a front wall 3, a bottom 4, and a top 5. The side walls 1 are each made in sections, of which there are two in the embodiment shown, the section 1? being located adjacent the rear wall 2' and the section l being lo cated adjacent the front wall 3. The sections 1 and l of each side wall are hingedly connected on a vertical axis. ncctions are provided between the sections 1 and the rear wall and between .the sections 1 and the front wall.

*ioint between the front Wall and the bottom;

and collapsed rela- The bottom 4 1s hinged at its front to the lower extrem ity ofthe'front wall and the top 5 is hinged relation. v

Similar c'onat its rear side to the'upper extremity of the rear wall. \Vhen the boxis set up for r se the sections 1 and 1" of each slide wall occupy a common plane. When the box is collapsed the secions of each side wall are folded in-wardly against one another, the bottom is folded between the sections 1' s-and'the front'wall, the rear wall is folded "-,tionsand a hinge pin 7 which is carried by 3 the other section and passes through the bead. As shown, the head 6 is provided on thejsection 1 and the section 1 is provided atitsiipper and lower edges with out-turned "flanges 8 and 9 respectively, between which the bead 6' fits, and by which the pin 7 is confined. The pin 7 islocated inwardly of 'the'inner edge of the section 1 and the slop mar inalportion 10 of said section, which *projects beyond the pin, lies fiush against :the' inner side of the adjacent oiiset marginal ortion of the section 1*, the latter being orzned with a shallow vertical shoulder '11. topprovide this relation. The marginal portion '10 of the section 1 acts as a stop to prevent the sections from being moved outwardly beyond a common plane,

and, in connection with the overlyin ginal portion of the section 1", it is e ective to establish a seal at the joint of the mo tions against the escape of dust and moisture into the interior of the. box.

The'hinge connection between the sections 1 and the rear'wall Qpreferably comprises a terminal bead 12 provided on one of'the walls and a hinge pin 13 whichis carried by the other wall and projects through the bead. As shown, the beads 12 are provided at the side edges of the wall 2 and the sections 1 are provided at their upper and lower edges and at adjacent their rear edges with inturned lugs 14 and flanges 33 respectively, between which the beads 12 fit and which confine the pins 13. The sections 1e attheir rear edges are provided with inturned vertical flanges 15 which conceal the beads-12 andthe other elements of the hinge joint, establish a seal against the escape of. dust and. moisture into the interior of thejbox, and afford bearings for the rear wall when the box is set up for use.

Fig. 10 shows a slight modification of the hinge connection between the sections I and the rear wall 2. In this case, the sections 1- are formedwith the lugs 14: and the flanges 33 and was in the preceding instance, but

theyflangeslo are provided at their upper and lower ends with lugs 15 which overlie the lugs 14 and flanges 33 andthe beads 12 "and'hinge pins 13 are not employed. In-

stead, the wall 2 has at its upper and lower edges flanges '16 which are connected by rivets 17 to the lugs 14 and 15.

Th'ehinge connection between the sections 1" and the front wall 3 is similar to the connection between the sections 1 and the rear wall 2, and includes terminal beads 18 provided at the sides of the wall 3 and fitting between inturncd lugs 1.) and flanges 49 provided at the upper and lower edges of the sections 1 and the hinge pins 20 which pass through the beads 18 and are confined by said lugs and flanges. The sections 1 at their forward edges are formed with inturned flanges 21 which overlie the front wall and form a bearing therefor when the box is set up, their function being the same as that of the flanges 15.

In order that the box may have a neat appearance and that the effect may be given that the walls are integrally connected or are set in frame pieces, the several sections of the side walls, adjacent their outer edges, are formed with oliscts 22 of the same dimensions as the flanges 15 and 21, which they adjoin, the eiiect on the eye being that the offsets 2i and the flanges adjacent thereto are angle pieces in which the walls are set or to which they are joined.

The hinge connection between the bottom and the front wall 3 comprises interfitting beads 23 and 524; on said bottom and front wall respectively, and a hinge pin 25 which passes through the beads 23 and 2d and has its ends secured to flanges 27 at the sides of the bottom 4.

When the box is set up the bottom 4 is supported by the hinge joint described and also by an inturned iango 28 provided at the lower edge of the rear wall 2 and upon which the free edge portion of the bottom rests. The bottom i may have at its free edge an inturned flange 9.9 provided with a slot in which the thumb nail may be engaged for the purpose oflifting the bottom when the box is to be collapsed or of pushing the bottom downwardly when the box is to be set up. It may be noted that the flanges 27, 28, and 29. have uniform contact with the adjacent parts, when the box is set up, and are effective to prevent dust moisture or vermin from passing into the box through the bottom thereof. The organization is of such nature, however, that the )rovision of these flanges does not increase t e space taken. up by the box when its walls are collapsed.

In order to prevent the bottom i from being accidentally jarred from position when the box is set up, spring tongues 31 flanges 83 and 5 to the connection be 4p hinge connection be 1 fronithe'fro '50 'taining the panel 38 37 15. provided, betwe the low thefbeads 20 are.;fo

I wh chthe contents of the box are visible.

, earshot plane,- are in line with I the 'lnturned flanges 49 aforesaid or the sec-' tibns 1"- and in connection withsaid flan es "49 fol 11'1" rests for the bottom 4 and a so 5 en age the surface of theshelf 01' Support uponwhich the box rests, the area of en-' gagement being sufficient to prevent dust or ermin. from passing under the box, The

. tongues 31 a'oresaid are carried \by' the 1" again a common are struck out from the sections 1. I r U The hinge connection between the top 5 and the-rear wall is shown at 34 and is of I ordinary character, being generally similar tween the bottom 4' and the front wall 3. v The top!) is formed along its sides and front with inturned flanges 35 which are preferabl beaded at their edges and which go not only serveto prevent the entrance of dust'or vermin, but also to retain the top in its closed position and against accidental dis lace'ment, coacting in,these functions with the upper edge portion of the front with the flanges 8 at the the sections 1", and with flanges 36 at the upper edgesof the sec tions 1. and which, in eifect, form continua- I .tions of the flanges 8 when thebox is set. 1:11p. at The heads '24 which are provided at t e lfwe'i edge of ..the front wall 3 andfor n irts'of the hinge. connectionbetween said ont wall and the bottom 4 are located inwardly of the plane of the front .wall and 35 project from a ledge 37 which forms a suport for, the transparent display panel 38. f The wall 3 -at its lower 'edge is crimped," as at 39, and the-ledge 37 rejects from the crimp 39 which is rovi ed to conceal the ween the front wall and the bottom and also to bearnpon the surface of itheshelf or other support upon which the boxnrests and thereby prevent dust'or vermin from passing under the box nt'thereof. As previously stated, the invention includes a. novel front wall construction, the, features of which involvethe assemblage of; the display panel. For thepurpose of reuponthe ledge 37and; m'contact'with the front wall, the ledge en the beads '24, with n'gers.40 which engage or portion of the display panel and rmed with "inturned anges' il which engage over the sides of thedispla' panel. he front wall is pro vided wili an opening 43 over which the display panel is arranged and through upstanding spring fi parent display rpose stated, it to indicate' on name or desighe box contains. 4

In connection with a trans panelie'niployed for the pn is customary and desirable the iront of the box the 65. nation of the go0ds which t For this vided in reading on said pl opening 45 forme plate 44 may hav flange 46 which e tion of the panel referred to, serve also to con 44 and to hold wall. formed at ilts sid 4'2 whichengage un plate 44 is furth the front wall flange 48 Which edge of said pla a it prevent dust from entering between the front wall and the late and between the 5 front wall and the a top 5.1 It will be a .gtoinp; description th late 44 are held s 1n such contact wit pfi'event V dust from enterin it assemblage of does not, how

removal of these elements casion may demand the box is to be sterilized. To coll box, the to i 4 is raised to a the front wall then broken sections 1 comin the sections l 1 and sb'etwee 'IIphe parts then have tlierelation show walls and that the box com sh box -13! eig ths of an inch.

outward! ma box a possible; when packing merit or storage, to nest greateoonomy of space.

are pulled away from extent and the side outwardly, their secti irate parallel planes at which time t ready'explained.

downwardly unti flanges 28. When the box is extended, its vertical walls ar a name plate 44 is promple disclosed, and the ate is exposed through an d in the front wall. The e at its lower end an an ngages over the upper por- 38. The flanges 41, above fine the late the latter a ainst the ront is purpose, t e plate 44 is es with overturned flanges purpose, the era or held in good contact with is formed a teand is fashioned to en'- pper edge portion of said e flange 48 serves also to go over the u out well. Th

aoent fiange 35 of the pparent. from the foreat thepanel 38 and the ecurely in position and h the front wall as will at the edges of e openings 43 and45. The security of the the plate 44 ever,'= intrfer p is thrown back 9, from which it will are in sub will be observed that y and consequently ejfitted over the djacent thereto.

its flanges 35 front wall of a folded In'this mannerit is the boxes. for shipthemand thus efi'ect its front and rear walls one another to a slight walls are then forced ons ultimately coming their far outward mpi'ement is arrested, as al- The bottom is then pushed 1 it comes to rest on the To extend the box,

e protected against any in der the flanges 41'. The,

by means of an angular long the upper and the panel 38 a depth; of about seventhe top 5 folds slide is raised, remaining in ward pressure, the flanges loand 531 form bearings for the rear and front wells and the overlying portions of the sections 1 and 1* serve a similar function.

, each side wall in eiztendcd relation. An example of such a means is shown in Figs. 1 and 11, from which it will be seen that a slide is arranged on the outer side of the sections 1 near the upper edge thereof, and carries a headed pin 51, the shank of which passes through a narrow slot 52 in the section 1. and through a keyhole slot in the underlying portion 10 of the section i When the slide is moved downward the head of the pin alines with the under portion of the slot 53 end, when the bottom been raised, the sections 1 and 1 may be folded inwardly,

'the pin 51 in such case passing from the slot 53. {in tire other hand, when the sections ll end 1" have been extended and the pin 51 has passed through the slot 58, the its raised position by the'frietional contact of the parts,

end the pin 51 occupies the narrow portion of the slot 53, and thus locks the sections against inward displacement and prevents any inward distortion of the upper porrear sections,

tions of the side walls.

It will be understood that no specific description herein contained is intended to put any limitation upon the scope of the sppended claims which does not inhere in the language thereof.

Having claim:

1.. in folding box, side wtlls made in hingedly jointed front and rear sections, a front wall hingedly jointed to the front sections, and a rear wall hingedly jointed to the the said sections havin turned flanges at their extreme edges wnich are adapted when the box is set up to overhe the side marginal portions of the front and rear walls and to form bearings for said fully described my invention, 1

' walls.

2. in a folding box, side walls-mode in hingedly jointed front and rear sections having inturned lugs at their upper and lower ends and adjacent their extreme edges, and having hinge pins enter ding between said lugs, and front and rear walls hingedly jointed to said respect e front and rear sections and havin ntern'unnl beeds at their we side edges which fit between said lugs and through which the hinge pins pnssgtho ssidx sections having interned flanges at their extreme edges which, when the box set up, are 'adapted to overlie the side marginal portions of the front and rear wells to form bearings therefor, and to conceal. the hinge since, as already described,

nuance joints between said front and rear walls and said side walls.

3. In a folding box, hingedly jointed walls hingedly front and rear edges of said side walls, a bottom hinged to the lower edge of the front wall and having side flanges and slots adjacent thereto and spring fingers proside walls made in sections, front and rear jointed to the respective vided at the lower edges of the side walls \'rhen the box is folded, to receive thefront wall of an adjacent folded box in nested relation, and a bottom hingedly jointed to the lower edge of the front wall and adapted to fold between the latter and the adjacent sections of the side walls.

5. In a folding box, hingedly jointed side and front walls, a bottom, an inset hinge joint connecting the bottom and the front wall, the front wall having a crimp atits lower edge and having a ledge which r0- jects from the crimp and to which the ottom is hinged, spring fingers struck up from the ledge, and a panel resting upon the ledge and having its lower portion engage by said fingers, the hinge joints between the front and side walls including beads which are formed with inturned side flanges to engage over the marginal side portions of said panel.

6. In a folding box, hingedly jointed side and front walls, e bottom, an inset hinge joint connecting the bottom and the front wall, the front wall having a crimp at its lower edge and having jects from the crimp and to which the bottom is hinged, spring fingers struck up from the ledge, a panel resting upon the ledge and having its lower portion engaged byisaid fingers, the hinge joints between the frbnt and side walls includin formed with interned side flanges to engage over the marginal side portions of said panel, and a plate fitted removably under and between said flanges and havin a flange at its lower edge which engages t 0 upper portion of thepanel.

' 7. In a folding box, hingedly jointed side and front walls, a bottom. an inset hinge joint connecting the bottdin' and the front wall, the front wall having a crimp at its jointed to the re-' a ledge which probeads which are lower edge and having a ledge which projects from the crimp and to which the bottom is hinged, spring fingers struck up from the ledge, a panel resting upon the ledge and having its lower portion engaged by said fingers, the hinge joints between the front and side walls including beads which are formed with inturned side flanges to engage over the marginal side portions of said panel, and a removable plate having side flanges Which engage under said first named flanges and having a flange at its lower edgewhich engages over the upper portion of the panel.

8. In a folding box, hingedly jointed side and front walls, a bottom, an inset hinge joint Connecting the bottom and the front wall, the front wall having a crimp at its lower edge and having ledge which projects from the crimp and to which the bottom is hinged, spring fingers struck up from the ledge, a panel resting upon the ledge and having its lower portion engaged by said fingers, the hinge joints between the front and side walls including beads which are formed with inturned side flanges to engage over the marginal side portions of said panel, and a removable plate having side flanges which engage under said first named flanges and having a flange at its lower edge which engages over the upper portion of the panel, the upper portion of the plate being fashioned to engage over the upper edgeof the front Wall.

9. In a folding box, hingedly jointed side and front walls, a bottom, an inset hinge joint connecting the bottom. and the front wall, the front wall having a crimp at its lower edge and having a ledge which projects from the crimp and to which the bot tom is hinged, spring fingers struck up from the ledge, a panel, resting upon the ledge and having its lower portion engaged by said fingers, the hinge joints between the front and side walls including beads which are formed with inturned side flanges to engage over the marglnai blue: portions of said panel, and a plate removably fitted under and between said flanges and resting upon the panel, the panel and the plate being held by said flanges in contact with the front wall.

10. In a folding box, hingedly and front Walls a bottom, an inset hinge joint connecting the bottom and the front wall, the front wall having a crimp at its loweredge and having a ledge which projects from the crimp and to which the bottom is hinged, spring fingers struck up from the ledge, a, panel resting upon the ledge and having its lower portion engaged by said fingers, the hinge joints between the front and side walls ii'lcluding beads which are formed with inturned side flanges to engage over the marginal side portions of said panel, and a plate removably fitted under and between. said flanges and resting upon the panel, the panel and the plate being held by said flanges in contact with the front wall and the plate having its upper portion fashioned to engage'over said frontwall.

11, in a folding box, side walls made in hingedly jointed front and rear sections, a front wall hingedly jointed to the front sections and a rear wall. hingedly jointed to jointed side the rear sections, the hinge connections be f tween the front and rear walls and the re spective sections of the side walls including an inturned flange provided at the extreme edge of one of the hingedly connecting parts, and which is adapted, when the box is set up, to overlie the adjoining marginal portion of the companion hingedly connected part and to form a sustaining bearing for the latter. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Oltltfhl Gr. FRANKQ. Witnesses:

H, Don net, F. G, Ollana. 

